Clothes hanger



P. E. WEATON 7 1,896,654

CLOTHES HANGER Feb. 7, 1933.

Filed Jan. 10, 1931 \n I s q I I V- .III... 0

J m 6 0 7 J 7 o m R J m a??? o Q 6 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 PERCY E. WEATON, OF HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT CLOTHES HANGER Application filed. January 10, 1931. Serial No. 507,861..

The present invention relates to clothes Figure is a fragmental sectional view hangers or racks and the object of the invention is to provide a new and useful article 0 which is an improvement in a particular class of hangers that are adapted to be folded.

Heretofore various types of folding hangers have been proposed which comprise a supporting base having pivotally connected thereto an arm forming a rack member with hooks to receive individual garment hangers.

In previous instances the rack member is hinged or pivotally connected to the supporting base at a fixed or unchanging point and a folding pivoted brace or connecting link is employed to retain the rack in its horizontal position at right angles to the supporting base.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide improvements in which the rack member is pivoted from a variable or changing center or point; thereby said rack member will swing in various arcs of a circle so as to confine the travel of the rack within a shortened plane. The advantage of this arrangement is that the rack is kept within a determined level so that the garments hanging from the rack will not hang too low when the rack is dropped down into its horizontal position, nor will the garments be too high when the arm is thrown back into its vertical position against its support. Retentive means comprising a brace or braces are employed to retain the rack in its dropped position and a stop device is provided whereby the said rack is retained in any one of several intermediate positions, as desired.

The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the improved device in its closed position in full showing a modification of the improved device. I

Referring to said drawing, the improved articlecomprises the base-board or member 1 which may be suspended by means of the hook 2 from the point of support or if de sired the said member 1 may be secured by screws or the like to the 'wall of a closet, for example, and for this purpose screw holes 3 are provided. An arm 4 carrying a series of hooks 5 provides the rack member. of the article and this rack member 4 is pivotally connected at 6 with the base 1. Pivoted braces or connecting links 7 also connect the rack 6 with the base and it will be noted that these links are pivoted at fixed points 8 on the movable rack 4 and the stationary support 1. The latter member 1 has a longitudinal slot 9 therein and the pivot 6 slides within'this slot 9 and the groove 9. Said pivot has a shank 10 and nut 11 serving as means to keep the pivot in operative relation with the base 1. The nut 11 is located within the groove 9 and therefore at all times said nut may travel freely therein to the end of the'slot except when stopped by adjusting means to be described.

The base member 1 of the improved hanger has secured thereto a spring latch 12 which engages the arm or rack 1 in its closed or vertical position. Means for retaining the rack in an intermediate position comprises a pin 13 which is preferably tied by string 14: to said member 1. This pin 13 may be placed in one of a series of holes 15 so as to engage the nut 11 and thus act as a stop to retain the rack arm in any one of the desired intermediate angular positions. It will be understood that the slot 9 is of such a length that the upper wall thereof is engaged by the sliding pivot 10 when the arm is dropped to its lowest position and thereby the arm is held firmly in its horizontal position.

In one form of the invention as shown in the drawing, companion links or braces 7 are employed one at each side of the base 4 and this construction is preferable when comparative greater weight is to be carried by the arm 4. In such cases where the requirements will be met, a single link or brace 7 may be employed and this link is located centrally within the article and in this case the slot 9 is extended and cut so as to allow the folding of the single brace or link 7 therein; also a receiving slot 16 is provided in the rack arm 4.

In the operation of the improved device, as previously stated, the improved hanger may be hung or secured as desired and the rack member is brought to its horizontal position wherein the garments, for example, are suspended from the hooks provided. The rack may then be closed or pushed back into its vertical or an intermediate angular position as de lred by the operator. When the rack is in its closed or partly closed position, the garments are accordingly brought closer together so as to take up less room. WVhen it is desired to take down a garment the rack is brought to its horizontal or an intermediate position to meet the convenience of the operator. It will, of course, be understood that in using this hanger, the garments will first be hung from hooks located beyond the pivotal center 8 of the link or links 7 so as to maintain the proper equilibrium of balance. Furthermore it should always be desirable to have the greater weight beyond said pivotal point so that the rack would not close on itself due to the unbalanced hanging of garments.

Various modifications may be made in carrying out the constructional details of the invention or in the application of the same other than hereinbefore described and it is therefore to be understood any modification coming fairly within the terms of the appended claims shall be covered thereby.

I claim:

1. In a clothes hanger as described, a base board, a folding arm pivotally connected to said base board, said arm having a series of hooks carried on the underside thereof, suspension means for said arm comprising a link pivotally connected to said base and arm, said link being located above said arm, said link permitting folding of said arm into its inoperative or closed position wherein said arm is folded into position against said base board, said base board having a straight longitudinal slot therein permitting sliding movement of the pivotal connection between said arm and base board whereby said arm is brought into operative position.

2. In a clothes hanger as described, a base board, a folding arm pivotally connected to said base board, said arm having a series of hooks carried on the underside thereof, suspension means for said arm comprising a link pivotally connected to said base and arm, said link being located above said arm, said link permitting folding of said arm into its inoperative or closed position wherein said arm is folded against said base board, said base board having a straight longitudinal slot therein permitting sliding movement of the pivotal connection between said arm and base board, and means placeable in the path of travel of said pivotal connection whereby said arm is retained in set angular positions relatively to said base board.

3. A device of the class described comprising a base or support, an arm having hooks on the underside thereof providing a clothes hanger rack, said arm being connected by pivotal means to said base, said means travelling within a straight longitudinal slot provided in said base, suspension means located above said arm co-operating with said pivotal means to hold said arm in the open or operative position, and means interposed in the path of travel of said pivotal connection whereby said arm is retained in a determinable adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PERCY E. W'EATON. 

